Washington urged to release Afghan assets

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday urged the United States to take practical actions to release frozen Afghan overseas assets and remove unreasonable sanctions, as he met with representatives at an extended meeting of the China-US-Russia consultation mechanism on the Afghan issue.

The multilateral meeting, which was hosted by Yue Xiaoyong, the special envoy for Afghan affairs at China's Foreign Ministry, brought together special representatives of the US, Russia and Pakistan for the Afghan issue.

Noting that China, Russia, Pakistan and the US are important stakeholders with influence on the Afghan issue, Wang said a lot of things can be done if the four countries can combine their advantages and form synergies.

China appreciated the constructive role of the consultation mechanism to help Afghanistan achieve a stable transition since the situation in Afghanistan undertook major changes, Wang said.

He stressed the need for the four countries to support Afghanistan's commitment to reconstruction efforts, the improvement of people's livelihoods, and its active response to the expectations of the international community.

Enhancing coordination

Wang also said the four countries should support Afghanistan in honoring its commitment to making a clean break with terrorism, as well as fighting and eradicating terrorism, so as to create necessary conditions for Afghanistan's economic and social development.

He also hoped the four countries could enhance coordination and build on consensus, and send positive signs to the world by putting aside differences and seeking common ground, while calling for the four countries to take more concrete and practical measures.

The four countries should keep a pioneering spirit and actively address difficult issues to advance the "China-US-Russia plus" consultation mechanism to play an effective role in Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction and the well-being of the Afghan people, Wang said.

Speaking on behalf of the other representatives, Yue said the extended meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the Third Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Afghan Issue Among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan, carried special significance.

The four countries stand ready to have the international community pay more attention to the Afghan issue and garner consensus of all parties to play a constructive role in Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction, Yue said.